Experts can discuss Senate vote on welfare reform

An Ohio State University early childhood specialist and family resource management specialist can discuss Tuesday’s vote in the U.S. Senate to increase child care subsidies for welfare recipients. The bipartisan 78-20 vote is part of a bill to update the 1996 welfare law.

Kathy Reschke, assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science and child care specialist with Ohio State University Extension, has examined how child care subsidies help women stay employed even after transitioning off welfare. In addition, she can discuss the need for more child care funding, as currently only 20 percent of Ohio families who are eligible actually receive such subsidies.

Reschke has also analyzed data for an Ohio Child Care Center Workforce Study in examining training levels, turnover, wages, benefits and working conditions in Ohio’s child car centers. She can comment on her findings, as a portion of the federal money is earmarked to improve the quality of child care.

In addition, Sharon Seiling, associate professor in the Department of Consumer and Textiles Sciences and family resource management specialist with OSU Extension, can discuss the impact of welfare reform on rural families. Since 2000, Seiling has led a research team from 15 midwestern states gathering data on more than 400 families, many of whom receive government aid. She can discuss the challenges rural families face in finding both child care and fulltime work, especially in light of the increased work requirements being discussed in the welfare law revision.